Platform 9 & 3/4
It has been a few months since the Quidditch World Cup. Harry got tons of presents for his birthday, most of them items from WWW. "Arthur is already at Hogwarts, so be safe, oh here comes the train." "Mum, we'll be fine." said Ron and Ginny at once. Mrs. Weasley ignored them. "Oh and you Harry, come back for Christmas alright, you and Miss Granger have my permission to go to Hogsmeade by the way." "Zonko's is back." George whispered to Harry. Then Harry saw someone he really didn't expect to see. It was Malfoy. The last time Harry remembered speaking to Malfoy was last year in the Room of Requirement, where Harry saved his life but Crabbe died. "Ron, Hermione." Harry whispered to his friends. "It's Malfoy." "That pureblood-loving rich snob bit-" "Ron!" Harry heard Hermione whisper. When Harry was sure Mrs. Weasley, George, and Kreacher had left, Ron started to walk up to Malfoy when his parents were gone. "Malfoy! Why are you still here? Your deatheater as father once again let you through? What a disgrace your family is-" "Look, Weasley, I had an agreement with Professor Cox, and well, um, the headmaster, that I could go to Hogwarts, but not participate in going to Hogsmeade, Quidditch, and I have to start off with failing grades." "Ha!" Harry heard Hermione whisper under her breath. Before Malfoy say anything else, the train arrived and he quickly got on. Harry got on the train after Hermione, Ginny, and Ron. When the four of them got on, they got greetings and cheers from Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, Padma Patil and her sister, Cho Chang, and almost everyone except Dennis Creevey. As the four of them went in a compartment, Ron decided to start a conversation about Malfoy. "How could Hogwarts be stupid enough to let that scum here again?" "Ron!" Hermione whispered a bit loud. Then Ginny spoke. "Who is Professor Cox anyway?" "Probably an idiot." Ron commented. "New teacher, maybe?" Hermione observed. Harry knew he could finally speak. "Yeah, he is, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Met him at the Quidditch World Cup." Ron said, " He favors Malfoy, probably, maybe a former death eater?" They all went silent.
